Coin-controlled sale and delivery mechanism



2 ShetS- Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. GRIBBEL. GOIN CONTROLLED SALE AND DELIVERY MECHANISM. No. 584,586.

Patented June, 15,1897.

lNVEN-TOR: 62d! WITNESSES; I I J/ 6 V (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 2.

' J.-GRIB BEL. V GOIN- CONTROLLED SALE AND DELIVERY MEGHALIITSL'II.v No. 584,586. I Patented June 15,1 97,

WITNESSES: INVENTORE UNITED STAT S PATENT I Erica.

JOHN GItIBBEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED SALE AND DELIVERY MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,586, dated June 15, 1897.

Application filed March 3,1897. Serial No. 625,819. (No model.)

To a, whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN GRIBBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prepayment Sale and Delivery Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a class of appara tus employed to effect either the delivery of a predetermined quantity of merchandise or the accomplishment of any other desired obj ect, upon the presentation to the apparatus of a coin of given dimensions, which coin, when thus presented to or inserted in the apparatus, serves to temporarily connect or couple an external handle or knob with the internal mechanism of the apparatus, with the result that thereupon movement imparted to said knob or handle is transmitted to the delivery mechanism and such goods delivered or object elfected as the construction and arrangement of the delivery mechanism may be adapted to bring about.

It is the object of my invention to provide an apparatus of the foregoing character, which shall be more simple and inexpensive in construction, more positive and certain in operation, and less liable to get out of order, than such apparatus as heretofore constructed.

It is the especial object of myinvention to so construct and arrange my improved apparatus as to guard against those derangements of its parts which are liable in this class of apparatus, as ordinarily constructed, to be brought about by lack of skill on the part of the person using it.

In the accompanying drawings I show and herein I describe a good form of a convenient embodiment of my invention, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being here inafter definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical, central, transverse, sectional, elevation of my improved apparatus, section being supposed on the dotted line 11 of Figure 7 and sight being taken in the direction of the arrows applied to said line.

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional, elevational,

views of my improved apparatus, section being supposed on the dotted lines 2-2, and 3 3, of Figure'l, respectively.

Figure 4 is an under plan view of the upper portion of the cylinder chamber. Figure 5 is a View in perspective of thelockin g bolt removed from the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the manipulating stem.

Figure 7 is aview,in front elevation, of my apparatus.

Figure 8 is a view,in rear elevation, of my apparatus.

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of the op erating knob removed from the apparatus.

Figure 10 is a view in perspective of the slot plate of the cup chamber. I

Figure 11 is a view in perspective of the coin cylinder.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the accompanying drawings,

A is the manipulating stem and B the coin cylinder, the latter being mounted in a suitable casing 0, through the front wall of which said stem extends and on the exterior of which it is equipped with a manipulating handle a. The coin cylinder is mounted in a chamber termed the cylinder chamber, and equipped with a concentric shaft 19 extending through a wall of the casing and provided with a gear wheel B through which or any equivalent device it is adapted to make engagement with the mechanism of any delivering apparatus with which my improved device may be connected or associated.

The casing, which is conveniently formed as to its exterior as a cast metal shell, is shown as formed as a pyramidal structure, embodying three chambers, the innermost or largest of which I term the operating chamber O,-- the intermediate one of which I term the cyl inder chamber 0 and the smallest of which I term the spring chamber 0 A plate G embodying a central boss O in an axial aperture of which the shaft of the cylinder B finds its bearing, is secured to the casing and constitutes a division between the operating chamber and the cylinder chamber.

The plate may be conveniently removed for the insertion or removal of the cylinder and its associated parts. The spring chamber is, in fact, a continuation of the cylinder chamber.

The coin cylinder Bis shown as formed as a structure having a concentric annular recess 1) in one end thus forming a central boss b and having a coin slot 19 extending through its body, said coin slot being as to both of its ends of such dimensions as to receive a coin of predetermined size, but as to the center of' such relatively diminished dimensions as to arrest the passage of such coin after it has been received within the end of the slot.

By means of a ratchet plate C mounted on the shaft h and engaged by a pawl C pivotally mounted on the plate O and held to duty by a spring C the cylinder is held against rotation to the left.

The inner end of the manipulating stem A is shown as in contact with the end of the boss b of the coin cylinder, and as having an axial recess in which is entered the reduced end of said boss. By virtue of this arrangement the stem A is maintained in fixed axial relation with respect to the cylinder B but remains capable of rotary movement inde pendent of said cylinder.

The inner end of the manipulating stem is provided with a plate D, the inner face of which is equipped with an inwardly projecting pin d, shown in Figures 2 and 6, which extends within the annular recess Z) of the cylinder, and in the rotation of the manipulating stem, follows a concentric course along or through said recess.

The wall of the cylinder chamber is provided with coin slots 0 and C situated opposite each other in the upper and lower portions or faces of the casing respectively, and with which the coin slot 6 in the cylinder registers at selected points of its rotation.

Incidentally, it may be stated at this point that that part of the wall of the casing in which the slot 0 is located, is formed as an independent plate 0 removable from the body of the casing; this is for the sake of convenience in applying and adjusting the slot closing shutter, whereof hereinafter.

The operating handle a is, as shown in Figures 7 and 9, provided with a projection A and the exterior of the casing is provided with a stop A, extending approximately half way around the exterior of the outer end of the casin g shell, the arrangement being such that the operating handle a is by contact of its projection A alternately with the respective ends of said step, prevented from making more than a partial revolution in either direction, the set of the parts beingsuch, moreover, that upon the operating handle coming to rest with its projection A in contact with one end of the stop, the cylinder B presents one end of its coin slot Z2 to the coin slot 0 and the other to the coin slot O ,-while, after movement of the operating handle in the other direction, when it comes to rest with the slot of the coin cylinder, it is, as explained,

arrested in its descent through the latter, and held in a position in which it extends across the annular recess or channel I) formed in the end of the coin cylinder. WVhen the manipulatin g stem is then rotated to the right, its pin, traveling along said channel, encounters the coin, and carries said coin, and consequently the coin cylinder, around with it, until further progress of the stem is prevented by the contact of the projection A with the stop A, and, when said stop is thus encountered, the coin will be accurately in line with the coin slot 0 and will, therefore,

descend by gravity through said slot into any suitable receptacle provided for its reception. In this rotation the other end of the slot of the coin cylinder has been carried into registry with the slot C as explained.

In this rotation, as will be understood, the shaft 19 of the coin cylinder has been given a half revolution to the right, and such revolution is to be utilized, in the selling and delivering mechanism in connection with which my apparatus may be employed, in effecting the delivery of the predetermined quantity of goods such as stationery or confectionery,or for the turning of a valve to permit the flow of any fluid such as gas for a given time or until a given quantity is delivered.

After the operating handle is thus turned IOC to the right, it is, before another coin is insorted, to be thrown to the left, so that,when another coin is inserted, the pin 61 of the manipulating stem will be behind said coin and in position to force said coin and the coin cyli'nder to the right. The operating handle or knob a and the stem A are in this movement to the left, without effect upon the coin cylinder, which remains in the position assumed by it on the completion of the rotation to the right.

Inasmuch as if the coin cylinder fails to come to rest in a position in which its slot is precisely in front of the coin slots of the easing,as, for instance, if said cylinder is turned so as to strike the stop abruptly and then slightly rebound,it is impossible to insert a coin,-thus rendering the device inoperative,.and, inasmuch as when no coin is in place, rotation of the operating handle is Without effect upon the coin cylinder, and it is, therefore, possible to correct the position of the coin cylinder only by manipulating said cylinder by an implement inserted through the coin slot of the casing,-I provide a looking device by which the coin cylinder is,

when afterrotation it reaches a position in which its slot is in registry with the coin slots of the casing, automatically locked in such position, and therebyit is insured that a coin presented through the slot O will be received within the slot of the cylinder.

E Figures 1 and 2, is a bolt recess formed in a boss or enlargement shown as integral with the wall of the spring chamber, said bolt recess opening as to its end into the cylinder chamber, and as to its side into the spring chamber.

E is a bolt mounted in said bolt recess, provided with a lug which depends down within the spring chamber, the free or advance end of which bolt is of such size and shape as to adapt it to enter the slot of the cylinder. The belt is mounted in such position as to be on actly in line with the coin slot 0 and is constantly pressed outward toward the cylinder by a spring 6 with the result that as soon as the cylinder reaches a position in which its slot registers with the slot 0 the bolt springs into said slot and securely locks said cylinder in position. Conveniently the spring which forces the bolt outward,and which is designated e, is a piece of spring wire one end of whichis secured to the wall of the spring chamber and the other end of which bears against the lug of the bolt.

In order to retract the bolt against the stress of its spring, when it is desired to rotate the cylinder to the right to operate the delivery mechanism, I provide the inner face of the plate D with a cam face cl, the relationship of the parts being such that the lug of the bolt rests against the inner face of said plate or the lower portion of the cam face, when the bolt is engaged in the slot of the cylinder, but, when the said stem is rotated, the bolt lug, riding up the elevated portion of the cam face, is forced with the bolt away from the cylinder, whereby the latter is released, so that in the continuation of such rotation, of the stem, by the time the pin d encounters the coin, the cylinder is free to be pushed forward by said pin. As the cylinder completes its semirevolution, the lug of the bolt rides down the incline, under the stress of the spring, and when the slot comes opposite to the bolt, the latter springs into place therein.

Obviously, after the manipulating stem and the cylinder have been rotated to the right, to occasion the operation of the delivery mechanism, the manipulating stem must be rotated to the left before another coin is in sorted, else the coin will descend to a position behind the pin d, rendering impossible the movement of the manipulating stem to the left, and thus temporarily blocking the further operation of the apparatus. In order to prevent the inadvertent insertion of a coin before the manipulating stem has been thrown or turned to the left, I provide an automatic slot-closing shutter which will close the slot O when the manipulating stem is thrown to the right and maintain it closed until the said stem is returned to its normal position at the movement across and away from the slot C7..-

A wire spring f secured to said shutter and to the casing, constantly tends to force the shutter along the ways to a position in which it abuts against a stop f and closes the slot.

G is a finger projecting from the stem plate D, and, of course, rotating with it.

This finger occupies such position in relation to the stem A as in the rotation of the stem to encounter a projection or lug f depending from said shutter F.

WVhen the manipulating stem is turned to the left, as it is nearing the end of its movement, the finger G, encountering the shutter, carries it to the left, with the result that when the stem has reached the end of said movement the shutter is drawn away from the slot C against the stress-of its spring, leaving said slot open or exposed.

When the stem is rotated to the right to operate the delivery mechanism, the finger F is carried away from the shutter, which thereupon, under the influence of its spring, automatically moves to a position across the slot G and remains in such closing position until the manipulating stem is again rotated to the left, whereupon the finger will again encounter and throw open the shutter. I11- advertent insertion of a coin through the slot 0 when the pin is on the wrong side of said slot, is, therefore, prevented.

My improved device may, of course, be employed in connection with any selected form or type of delivery mechanism adapted to deliver any kind of valuable article or accomplish any desired end, and I do not restrict its employment to use in connection. with any one such form.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a prepayment sale and delivery mechanism, in combination, a manipulating stem, a shaft adapted to be engaged with selected delivery mechanism, a coin cylinder adapted to receive a coin and carried by one of said devices, means carried by the other of said devices for engaging said coin and cylinder, a casing in which said stem, cylinder, and shaft, are mounted for rotation, a coin slot formed in said casing, and means for automatically locking the cylinder in position with its slot in registry with the slot of the casing, substantially as set forth.

2. I11 a prepayment sales and delivery mechanism, a rotatable coin cylinder embodying a slot adapted to receive a coin, and means for automatically locking said cylinder in a selected position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a prepayment sale and delivery mechanism, in combination, a coin cylinder having a coin slot, means for rotating said cylinder, means for automatically securing said cylinder in selected positions of adj ustmen t,and for releasing said cylinder automatically through the device employed to operate the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

4. In a prepayment sale and delivery mechanism, in combination, a casing embodying a coin slot, a manipulating stem, a shaft, a coin cylinder carried by one of said devices, said cylinder embodying a slot adapted to receive a coin, a projection carried by the other of said devices, and adapted to encounter an inserted coin, a spring-controlled bolt mounted in the casing and adapted to engage with the cylinder when its slot is in line with the slot of the casing, substantially as set forth.

5. In a prepayment sale and delivery mechanism in combination, a casing, embodying a coin slot, a rotatable manipulating stem, a rotatable shaft, a coin cylinder carried by one of said devices, said cylinder embodying a slot adapted to receive a coin, a projection carried by the other of said devices, and adapted to encounter an inserted coin, a spring-controlled bolt mounted in the casing and adapted to automatically engage in the slot of the cylinder when said slot is in line with the slot of the casing, and means carried by one of said rotatable devices for forcing said bolt out the said recess, substantially as set forth.

6. In a prepayment sale and delivery mechanism, in combination, a casing, a manipulating stem provided with a cam face and a projecting pin, a coin cylinder having a shaft and embodying a slot for the reception of a coin, said manipulating stem, cylinder, and shaft being all arranged for rotation, a bolt mounted in the casing and adapted to slide toward and from the coin cylinder, and a spring which forces said bolt within the slot of said coin cylinder and against said cam face, substantially as set forth.

7. In a prepayment sales and delivery mechanism, in combination, a casing, a coin-receiving slot formed in said casing, a coin cylinder mounted in said casing, a shutter which closes the coin slot in the casing, and means for antomatically opening said shutter during the bringing of the coin cylinder to proper position to receive a coin, substantially as set forth.

8. In a prepayment sale and delivery mechanism, in combination, a casing embodying a slot, a shutter mounted upon said casing, a spring for forcing said shutter over said slot, a coin cylinder, a manipulating stem, a shaft mounted for rotation in said casing, and a finger or device carried by one of said devices which when the members are rotated to the position in which the cylinder is adapted to receive a coin encounters said shutter and holds it away from said slot, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination, the manipulating stem, the coin cylinder, the shaft, the casing having the coin slot, the bolt, a spring Which controls said bolt, a shutter and a spring which controls said shutter, and means, carried by said stem for retracting both said bolt and said shutter, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination, the manipulating stem, the coin cylinder, the shaft, the casing having the coin slot, the bolt, a spring which controls said bolt, a shutter and a spring which controls said shutter, a cam carried by the operating stem and adapted to encounter the bolt, and a finger carried by said stem and adapted to encounter said shutter, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntosigned my name this 17th day of February, A. D. 1897.

JOHN GRIBBEL.

In presence of WALTER O. PUSEY, F. NORMAN DIXON. 

